This March break, 11 students and two faculty members are traveling to Spain to explore the life and works of Teresa de Ávila, a renowned Spanish mystic. Please enjoy the blog post below from Artie ‘27 & Arthur ‘27 share how the group visited the Colegio Juan XIII in Valladolid, where they were warmly welcomed by students and teachers alike. They learned about the school’s strong sense of community, participated in an engaging presentation led by Deerfield students, and had the opportunity to interact with both young and older students before enjoying a historic lunch at a 500-year-old bodega:
Yesterday, we started our morning with a quick bus ride over to the Collegio Juan XXIII Discipulas de Jesus in Valladolid. The school is a preschool through tenth grade school that enrolls over 300 students. Colegio Juan XIII much like Deerfield, places huge importance on community and school spirit as well as academic excellence. The school is also the headquarters of a missionary organization that operates schools throughout Spain, Latin America, and Africa.
We then headed to their main auditorium where Jordan, Henrique, and the surprise appearance of Juan-Rudolfo (Mr. Jan) led a presentation on both schools. Abby and two Colegio students acted as translators. Ellie gave a great Deerfield story about the strength and diversity of friendships formed at Deerfield and boarding school in general. Mr. Jan led a Deerfield merch giveaway to students who answered questions about their school. Overall the school meeting was lively and the students of the Colegio Juan XIII were enthusiastic and eager to learn about Deerfield.
Afterwards, we were taken in separate groups to explore and see the different classes. We met the 1st Graders and Preschoolers, who were filled with energy and enthusiasm. Each kid was as friendly and welcoming as the next. They couldn’t stop asking questions. They showed us different animal noises and told us their favorite movies and food. When the class got slightly out of control, the teacher was able to bring the class back together. It was a great experience and wonderful vibe, I felt like I could spend all day with them. We later met the 10th Graders of the School and played hot potato as we unraveled a ball and answered specific questions. Bishop was the star of the show already making friends with those around him. After playing the hot potato questionnaire, we went outside and around the school for a small snack with Coke, water and chips. We left with a warm goodbye to the students.
After spending what felt like a short visit to the Colegio Juan XIII, we went to lunch at a local bodega. Knowing that a bodega in New York City is a small newspaper stand or a corner store, we were surprised to find that in Spain it refers to a hand carved cave made for storing and aging wine. The bodega we went to was over 500 years old. The food was excellent, consisting of artichokes, chips, and steak. Throughout the meal, we played Mafia and Abdullah told creative stories during the game. The bodega was an awesome look into the history of Spanish winemaking and cuisine.
